Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Boston has now won a season-high eight games in a row, as it easily flicked away yet another overmatched opponent. The streak is tied for the longest in the NBA this season, and it’s the Celtics’ second longest winning streak since 2011-12.
“It’s fun out there,” forward Marcus Morris said, “and I think you can tell from the outside looking in that guys are buying into what’s going on. I think guys are believing in each other and coming together and just understanding our roles.”
While this has been an impressive run, none of the eight wins have come against teams that currently have winning records. That will remain true in the next two games as well, when the Celtics face the Pistons and Suns. Nevertheless, Boston has feasted against opponents it is supposed to feast against.[…]
“Our communication is at an all-time high,” Morris said. “Guys are moving the ball and the ball is not sticking. We’re scoring it and we’re playing really well.”
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this streak is that the Celtics have crafted it despite consistently missing key pieces. Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, and Aron Baynes have all missed games during this stretch. Horford on Friday sat out for the fourth straight game due to pain in his left knee, but once again he was not needed.
Globe: ‘It’s fun out there.’ Celtics’ winning streak reaches eight
But Gordon Hayward, when asked about the recent success after Friday’s cushy 129-108 win over Atlanta, said the biggest difference is the Celtics are more connected.
“We’re really playing together, and we’re connected on both ends, especially when we’re communicating defensively,” Hayward said. “Then we don’t have to walk the ball up the court and can get some easy stuff in transition. That makes us even better, to be connected like this.”
When the Celtics were struggling, it felt like the solution was as basic as them making more shots. Easier said than done, but pretty simple. And that was correct. Per basketball-reference.com, during the win streak, the Cs have made 49.9% from the field, and 41.8% of threes. Before that, the numbers were 43.7% and 34.3%.
How they got here is more complicated, but when you’ve won eight straight, it’s best not to think too hard about it. Just enjoy yourselves and keep doing what you’ve been doing. Their comments above suggest that’s exactly what the Celtics will do.
Here are some more streak tidbits.
The @celtics have won 8 in a row, with a +182 point differential over that span.
That is Boston's best point differential over any 8-game span within a season in team history.
The last team to have a better point diff over an 8-game span was the Suns in April 1989.#CUsRise
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) December 15, 2018
Boston has now scored 120+ points in six of its last eight games, after doing so five times total throughout the entire 2017-18 regular season (82 games)
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) December 15, 2018
Including tonight, the Celtics have made 19 or more 3-pointers seven times in franchise history
Five of those games have come in the team's first 28 games of this season
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) December 15, 2018
Over his last three contests, Marcus Morris is averaging 26.0 points on 59.6% shooting (12-20 3-PT)
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) December 15, 2018
Special shoutout to Flaskdad, who’s been stroking threes at a torrid pace. Unsustainable? Who cares? It’s as if we’re suddenly rooting for Steph Curry, and that’s a wild experience.
Related — NBC Sports Boston: Celtics putting up unprecedented numbers over 8-game win streak | MassLive: Boston Celtics dominate Atlanta Hawks 129-106: Marcus Morris keeps rolling, Kyrie Irving, 10 things we learned
On Page 2: He’s more than a nickname
While Williams III has not played a ton, his potential – both as a player and from a marketing standpoint – is undeniable.
Whenever he steps on the parquet at the TD Garden, there is a noticeable rise from the crowd, eager to see him do something, anything positive on the floor.And lately, he has been given such an opportunity and more often than not, has not disappointed.
“Just keeping that next-man-up mentality,” said Williams. “Just focus on getting in there, doing what they ask me to do.”
NBC Sports Boston: Robert Williams’ improved play comes at a good time for the Celtics
Celtics rookie Robert Williams had a strong game against the Wizards on Wednesday, registering 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 14 minutes. He followed that up with 5 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 2 points on his only field-goal attempt of the game in the Celtics’ 129-108 victory over the Hawks on Friday night at TD Garden.
But he understands there is still so much room to grow.
On Thursday, he was back on the court at the practice facility — even though there was no practice — working on some things he did not do so well. He then went to the team’s film session, and afterward pulled some veterans aside for extra advice.
“That’s really good,” coach Brad Stevens said before the Celtics faced the Hawks. “He wants to be good. He’s worked hard. If he continues that, I don’t see how he’s not successful.”
Globe: Here’s why Robert Williams has his coach, teammates excited
We’re all having fun with the Timelord thing and the Weird Celtics Twitter memes, but the best part is: This kid can play. He’s demonstrated as much during this period of getting a chance (the silver lining of Al Horford’s sore knee), including a more-than-respectable showing (with two blocks) against Anthony Freakin’ Davis.
The loud rejections get the highlight videos, of course, but the young man has also done it without fouling. He’s played 56 minutes over the past three games, and has been called for only four fouls. That’s excellent for anyone whose game is based on shot-blocking and defense, but especially encouraging for a raw rookie.
Back at draft time, there were questions about Williams’ motor and work ethic, but — other than during his first couple of days with the team — has anyone seen any evidence of that? Actually, it seems to be the opposite.
Williams was the 27th pick in that draft. The most recent no. 27s before him were Kyle Kuzma, Pascal Siakam, Larry Nance Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gobert. That’s a talented group. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but at the same time there’s no reason for Celtics fans not to have high expectations for the Timelord.
Now, about that nickname…
And, finally… The Timelord saga continues
There’s been a lot written and said this week about Robert Williams,’ cult figure persona. Here — for anyone who still needs it — we have the actual story of how his Timelord handle came to be.
It’s hard to blame Ainge for not quite “getting” the nickname as there’s quite a bit of mythology behind it. The nickname stems from conversations between Twitter power users the Riffs Man (@HerbertofRiffs) and Brian Schroeder (@Cosmis) that started well before the Celtics selected Williams with the 27th pick of the NBA Draft. Schroder, who scouts players, clued the Riffs Man in on Williams back when he played with Texas A&M, which later evolved into a running joke about Ainge drafting him which – of course – actually ended up happening.
Williams fell in the draft partly because there were questions about his health and partly because there were questions about his makeup. When Williams overslept and missed his introductory press conference call the day after being drafted. Then he proceeded to be MIA for his first day of Celtics practice after failing to catch his plane on time, the local sports media went all in on him. The Timelord nickname came about not as a way to make fun of Williams but rather as a way for the pair to mock how the media turned the incidents into huge scandals.
“So, Brian called him Timelord and I turned him into like a Funkadelic character where the explanation for why he’s late for things and how I predicted his coming is that he’s trans-navigating multiple timelines,” the Riffs Man explained in a DM conversation.
The term Timelord has a secondary meaning as well, he added, “it’s also how he sees and times blocks and assists.” While Williams is still adjusting to the NBA, the two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year has already shown an ability to come up with blocks that appear to disrupt the fabric of spacetime. More than the pre-season controversy, it’s these moments that have led to the widespread adoption of the Timelord (or Time Lord) name.
Forbes: How Robert Williams Became The Timelord
Makes sense, right? Except that yesterday, Williams’ sister threw some cold water on our fun.
Robert Williams’s sister weighs in on the Timelord debate. ⬇️ https://t.co/1XLHa7T0zX
— Boston.com Celtics News (@BDCCeltics) December 14, 2018
Oh, and now it seems like the rookie himself is being swayed.
It’s official.#Celtics rookie Robert Williams likes the nickname “Lob Williams” more than #TimeLord pic.twitter.com/sgyNVUgrlw
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) December 14, 2018
But, in true American fashion, someone wants to make bank off Timelord.
What lmao https://t.co/A1sYRvHIy5
— Riffs Man (@Riffs_Man) December 14, 2018
And then there’s this (!):
Scal said on his radio show this morning that Danny called him and asked him not to use it anymore.
So I imagine you won’t hear it.
— John (@PainDidntHurt) December 14, 2018
Rob knows what the boss wants, but — amusingly — Mike and Scal went on to discuss during the game how to talk Ainge out of his “Lob Williams” suggestion.
How will all this shake out? Only time will tell.
The Rest of the Links:
NBC Sports Boston: Celtics clip the Hawks, extend winning streak to eight straight | Here’s what happened in the Celtics’ 129-108 win over the Hawks
Herald: Dominique Wilkins waxes eloquently about Danny Ainge and the crazy old days | Celtics win their eighth straight, 129-108, over Hawks
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